Method and apparatus for controlling a display monitor in a PC/TV convergence system

ABSTRACT

A computer system comprising a display monitor including an audio function and a computer coupled to the display monitor including a computer controller for controlling the audio function in the monitor. The computer is operable in a computer mode, a television mode, and a combination computer/television mode for displaying computer and television information on the monitor. The system determines whether the monitor includes a controller for controlling its audio function. Based upon this determination, the system controls the audio function with the audio controller in the monitor if the monitor includes such a controller or, alternatively, with the computer controller if the monitor does not have such a controller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controllinga peripheral device and, more particularly, to a system and method forcontrolling a display monitor in a computer system.

2. Description of the Related Art

A personal computer/television (PC/TV) convergence system is a fullyfunctional computer integrated with television functionality, providingTV viewing (via broadcast, cable, satellite, VCR, digital disk, or otherbroadcast media) and personal computing functionality.

A PC/TV convergence device may comprise a fully functional computerincluding memory, microprocessors, hard drives, floppy drives,fax-modems, CD-ROM player, keyboard, monitor, power supply, mouse,gamepad/joy stick, microphone, etc. The computer is interfaced with aNational Television Standards Committee (NTSC) signal which is convertedto a scan "video graphics adapter" (VGA) signal or the computer's scanVGA signal is converted to an NTSC interface signal.

The PC/TV convergence device is controlled by the computer's operatingsystem (OS). Thus, the monitor can display both TV programs and computerapplications either at the same time or separately. Furthermore, theconvergence of the functionality of a PC and a TV into a single systemalso permits the utilization of the communications bandwidth, massstorage and graphics application of the computer to deliver, store anddisplay applications within a television viewing environment.

The PC/TV is a user interactive device. For example, if a user iswatching TV, the PC/TV will be able to download information from anothersource (besides a TV station) information about, among other things, theTV program. Such information can originate from a web site or via phonelines or other data providers.

At present, when televisions and personal computers are separatedevices, TVs typically incorporate a remote control. A standard TVremote control may control a variety of television functions or otherrelated functions by communicating control information or infrared (IR)signals to the TV to indicate which button on the remote control wasdepressed.

When converging the functionality of a computer and a television,current computer convergence systems have retained use of a TV remotecontrol as well as separate control of computer functions and televisionfunctions. As a result, such systems utilize display monitors havingcontrollers responsive to a TV remote for controlling the variousfunctions of the display monitors, such as volume if the monitorincludes speakers, brightness, contrast, etc. However, when a userwishes to couple a display monitor to the system which does not includeany controllers responsive to a TV remote or does not include certainfunctions, such as audio, then such functions must be controlled andprovided by other means for proper operation of the system. Thus, whatis needed is a computer system which recognizes the type of displaymonitor being used and, in particular, determines if a monitor includescontrollers which are responsive to a TV remote for controlling thevarious functions of the monitors wherein the system uses a computer tocontrol such functions if the monitor does not include such controllers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention overcomes the above-identifiedproblems as well as other shortcomings and deficiencies of existingtechnologies by providing a method for controlling a peripheral device.The method comprises the steps of providing a peripheral deviceincluding at least one function; providing a computer operablyassociated with the peripheral device including a computer controllerfor controlling the function; determining whether the peripheral deviceincludes a peripheral controller for controlling the function; andcontrolling the function of the peripheral device with the peripheralcontroller if the peripheral device includes the peripheral controlleror, alternatively, with the computer controller if the peripheral devicedoes not include the peripheral controller.

The present invention also provides a computer system comprising aperipheral device including at least one function; a computer operablyassociated with the peripheral device including a computer controllerfor controlling the function; a sensing means for determining whetherthe peripheral device includes a peripheral controller for controllingthe function; and control means responsive to said sensing means forcontrolling the function with the peripheral controller if theperipheral device includes the peripheral controller or, alternatively,with the computer controller if the peripheral device does not includethe peripheral controller.

The present invention also provides a computer system comprising aperipheral device including at least one function and a computeroperably associated with the peripheral device including a computercontroller for controlling the function. The computer is operable in acomputer mode for receiving and transmitting computer information, atelevision mode for receiving and transmitting television informationand a combination computer/television mode for receiving andtransmitting computer and television information. The computer systemfurther comprises sensing means for determining whether the peripheraldevice includes a peripheral controller for controlling the function.The computer system further includes control means responsive to saidsensing means for controlling the function with the peripheralcontroller if the peripheral device includes the peripheral controlleror, alternatively, with the computer controller if the peripheral devicedoes not include the peripheral controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages, features, and characteristics of the presentinvention, as well as methods, operation, and functions of relatedelements of structure, and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become apparent upon consideration of the followingdescription and claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, allof which form a part of this specification, wherein like referencenumerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a computer system in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of acomputer system as is illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate exemplary embodiments illustrating thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the figures wherein like or similar elements aredesignated with identical reference numerals, there are depicted blockdiagrams illustrating a method and system according to the presentinvention. The purpose of these block diagrams is to illustrate thefeatures of the invention and the basic principles of operation of anembodiment thereof. These block diagrams are not necessarily intended toschematically represent particular modules of circuitry or anyparticular data or control paths.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram illustrating acomputer system 10. Computer system 10 includes a computer 12, aconvergence functionality module 14, a display monitor 16 and a remoteinput 18.

Computer 12 may preferably be a personal computer, and although notshown in FIG. 1, includes a processor, memory, data retrieval andstorage media and communication data ports. Display monitor 16 isoperable to receive and display video signals received from computer 12and may include an audio output system for playing audio signalsreceived from computer 12 as will be described in greater detail inconnection with FIGS. 3A and 3B.

Computer 12 is coupled to convergence functionality module 14 that isoperable to receive or generate data signals, such as video, audio, andgraphic information. For example convergence functionality module 14 maycomprise a television module or receiver, decoder or tuner capable ofreceiving television information or signals in the form of the NationalTelevision Standards Committee (NTSC) or Phase Alteration Line (PAL)forms, from any medium such as from a cable system or from a digitalsatellite system. Convergence functionality module 14 could also includevarious other electronic devices such as consumer electronic units. Forexample, convergence functionality module 14 could also include videogaming units and other direct audio/video sources such as video cassetterecorders (VCRs), and video disk player/recorders, including digitalversatile disk (DVD) player/recorders.

Computer system 10 may preferably be operated by a user using wirelessremote input 18 operating, for example, via radio waves, infra-red wavesor acoustic waves. Remote 18 communicates control information tocomputer 12 and convergence functionality module 14 to control theoperation of computer 12 and convergence functionality module 14.Although good results have been achieved using wireless keyboards andremote controls for remote input 18, it is contemplated that any inputdevice, wireless or hardwired, could be used to operate computer system10.

Still referring to FIG. 1, computer system 10 is configurable to beconnected and communicate with a network 20. It is contemplated thatnetwork 20 could be any type of network, including a Local Area Network,a Wide Area Network and the Internet.

In general operation, computer system 10 can be operated in variousmodes. Assuming now that converged functionality module 14 comprisesessentially a television module or receiver, computer system 10 can beoperated in a computer mode, a television mode, and a combinationcomputer/television mode. Computer system 10 is operable in thetelevision mode and the combination computer/television mode forreceiving and transmitting television information. When in a televisionmode, personal computer 12 processes the audio and video informationreceived or generated by television module 14, and outputs thecorresponding information on display monitor 16. At least two viewingsurfaces are possible when computer system 10 is being operated in thetelevision mode, a primary viewing surface and a secondary viewingsurface. The displayed image of the primary viewing surface fills theentire viewing screen, with only a portion of the screen dedicated tothe viewing of the secondary viewing surface, such as apicture-in-picture (PIP).

Computer system 10 is operable in the computer mode and the combinationcomputer/television mode for receiving, storing and transmittingcomputer information. When computer system 10 is being operated in thecomputer mode, computer 12 is utilized to perform computer functions,including executing and running software and interfacing with network20, with the output of computer 12 being displayed on display monitor16.

When computer system 10 is being operated in the combinationcomputer/television mode, the functionality of computer 12 andtelevision module 14 are both utilized including simultaneouslydisplaying computer information and the television information ondisplay monitor 16.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a more detailed block diagram ofan exemplary embodiment of computer system 10. Reference numerals usedin FIG. 2 which are like, similar, or identical to reference numeralsused in FIG. 1 indicate like, similar, or identical components asdepicted in this exemplary embodiment.

Computer system 10 includes at least one processor or central processingunit (CPU) 22. CPU 22 is interconnected via system bus 24 to randomaccess memory (RAM) 26, read-only memory (ROM) 28, and input/output(I/O) adapter 30 for connecting peripheral devices such as disk units 32and tape drives 34 to bus 24, user interface adapter 36 for connecting ahardwire keyboard 38, mouse 40 having one or more buttons 42, speaker44, microphone 46, and/or other user interface devices such as a touchscreen device (not shown) to bus 24, communication adapter 48 forconnecting computer system 10 to network 20, and display adapter 50 forconnecting bus 24 to display monitor 16. User interface adapter 36 isalso adapted to receive control information from remote input 18.Computer system 10 further includes a television module 14 coupled tobus 24 and display adapter 50 for receiving television information fromnetwork 20 via communications adapter 48 and providing or transmittingthe television information to display adapter 50 for display on displaymonitor 16.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specificprogram procedures, APIs and configurations are set forth to provide athorough understanding of the present invention. The exemplaryembodiment described herein is implemented with a Windows 95 operatingsystem created by Microsoft Corporation (Windows and Windows 95 aretrademarks of Microsoft Corporation) and an Intel Corporation X86 seriesmicroprocessor. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the artthat the present invention may be practiced without specific details andbe implemented in various computer systems having various processorsutilizing various operating systems, and in various configurations ormakes or models of tightly coupled processors or in variousconfigurations of loosely coupled multiprocessor systems. Proceduraldescriptions and representations which follow are the means used bythose skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to othersskilled in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, there are shown two exemplaryembodiments illustrating the present invention wherein referencenumerals which are like, similar or identical to reference numbers usedin FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate like, similar or identical components.Referring first to FIG. 3A, display monitor 16 includes one or morefunctions 60, 62, 64. For example, function 60 is an audio function,i.e., monitor 16 may include one or more speakers for generating soundin response to an audio signal received from computer 12 via a bus 66.Although bus 66 may be any type of bus for coupling a computer to aperipheral device, such as monitor 16, good results have been achievedusing an I² C (inter-integrated circuit) bus. Also, the audio signalreceived from computer 12 is a single level or fixed level signal. Thus,audio function 60 is operatively associated with and coupled to an audiocontroller 68, such as an amplifier, for controlling the volume ofspeakers for implementing audio function 60 by amplifying the fixedlevel audio signal received from computer 12 via bus 66 in response toremote input 18. Function 62 is a display-geometry function, whicheffects the physical geometry of information displayed on monitor 16such as vertical and horizonal display position and vertical andhorizontal display size. Display-geometry function 62 is operativelyassociated with and coupled to a display-geometry controller 70, such asa horizontal/vertical position controller and a horizontal/vertical sizecontroller. Function 64 is a display-quality function which effects thephysical quality of information displayed on monitor 16 such as displaybrightness, contrast, color, hue, sharpness and color temperature.Display quality function 64 is operatively associated with and coupledto a display-quality controller 72, such as a brightness controller orcontrast controller.

According to the invention, computer 12 includes an audio controller68', a display-geometry controller 70', and a display-quality controller72' corresponding to audio controller 68, display-geometry controller 70and display-quality controller 72, respectively, in monitor 16. Audiocontroller 68', display-geometry controller 70' and display-qualitycontroller 72' are operatively associated with and coupled to functions60, 62, 64 from computer 12 instead of internally within monitor 16.Controllers 68', 70' and 72' provide a duplicate means for controllingfunctions 60, 62, 64 of monitor 16 from computer 12. For example,instead of computer 12 sending a fixed level audio signal via bus 66 tocontroller 68 and remote input 18 being used to send control informationto controller 68 to cause controller 68 to raise or lower audio volume,computer 12 sends a multiple level, non-fixed level audio signaldirectly to controller 68 to cause controller 68 to raise or lower audiovolume.

Referring now to FIG. 3B wherein reference numerals which are like,similar or identical to reference numbers used in FIG. 3A indicate like,similar or identical components, monitor 16' does not include audiocontroller 68 for audio function 60. Thus, remote input 18 cannot beused to directly control audio function 60 in monitor 16' but insteadmust be used to control audio function 60 from computer 12. In otherwords, function 60 must be controlled by controller 68' in computer 12via bus 66. According to the invention, computer 12 determines whethermonitor 16, 16' is a particular type or belongs to a selected set ofmonitors. In particular, computer 12 determines whether monitor 16, 16'includes controller 68 or function 60. If monitor 16 includes controller68 as shown in FIG. 3A, then function 60 is controlled by controller 68in monitor 16 instead of controller 68' in computer 12. If monitor 16'does not include controller 68 as shown in FIG. 3B, then function 60 iscontrolled by controller 68' in computer 12 instead of controller 68. Ifmonitor 16' does not include controller 68 or function 60 and a secondperipheral device 16" includes function 60' but does not includecontroller 68, then function 60' is controlled by controller 68' incomputer 12 as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3B. In other words, ifmonitor 16' is not equipped with speakers, audio function 60 may beimplemented in another peripheral device that includes speakers.Peripheral devices 16, 16' , 16" may include a signature tag stored inmemory which can be read by computer 12 to determine type or whether theperipheral devices have certain functions or function controllers.Peripheral device identification is well known in the art and, for thisreason, will not be described in any greater detail.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it should be recognized that elements thereof may bealtered by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. One of the embodiments of the invention canbe implemented as sets of instructions resident in the random accessmemory 26 of one or more computer systems configured generally asdescribed in FIG. 2. Until required by the computer system, the set ofinstructions may be stored in another computer readable memory, forexample in a hard disk drive, or in a removable memory such as anoptical disk for eventual use in a CD-ROM drive or a floppy disk foreventual use in a floppy disk drive. Further, the set of instructionscan be stored in the memory of another computer and transmitted over alocal area network or a wide area network, such as the Internet, whendesired by the user. One skilled in the art would appreciate that thephysical storage of the sets of instructions physically changes themedium upon which it is stored electrically, magnetically, or chemicallyso that the medium carries computer readable information. The inventionis limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling a peripheral devicecomprising the steps of:providing a peripheral device including at leastone function; providing a computer operably associated with theperipheral device including a computer controller for controlling saidfunction; determining whether said peripheral device includes aperipheral controller for controlling said function; and controllingsaid function of said peripheral device with said peripheral controllerif said peripheral device includes said peripheral controller or,alternatively, with said computer controller if said peripheral devicedoes not include said peripheral controller.
 2. The method, as recitedin claim 1, wherein said peripheral device is a display for displayinginformation.
 3. The method, as recited in claim 2, wherein one of saidat least one function of said display is an audio function.
 4. Themethod, as recited in claim 3, wherein said peripheral controller andsaid computer controller are audio controllers.
 5. The method, asrecited in claim 2, wherein one of said at least one function of saiddisplay is a display-geometry function.
 6. The method, as recited inclaim 5, wherein said peripheral controller and said computer controllerare display-geometry controllers.
 7. The method, as recited in claim 2,wherein one of said at least one function of said display is adisplay-quality function.
 8. The method, as recited in claim 7, whereinsaid peripheral controller and said computer controller aredisplay-quality controllers.
 9. A computer system comprising:aperipheral device including at least one function; a computer operablyassociated with said peripheral device including a computer controllerfor controlling said function; sensing means for determining whethersaid peripheral device includes a peripheral controller for controllingsaid function; and control means responsive to said sensing means forcontrolling said function with said peripheral controller if saidperipheral device includes said peripheral controller or, alternatively,with said computer controller if said peripheral device does not includesaid peripheral controller.
 10. The computer system, as recited in claim9, wherein said peripheral device is a display for displayinginformation.
 11. The computer system, as recited in claim 10, whereinone of said at least one function of said display is an audio function.12. The computer system, as recited in claim 11, wherein said peripheralcontroller and said computer controller are audio controllers.
 13. Thecomputer system, as recited in claim 10, wherein one of said at leastone function of said display is a display-geometry function.
 14. Thecomputer system, as recited in claim 13, wherein said peripheralcontroller and said computer controller are display-geometrycontrollers.
 15. The computer system, as recited in claim 10, whereinone of said at least one function of said display is a display-qualityfunction.
 16. The computer system, as recited in claim 15, wherein saidperipheral controller and said computer controller are display-qualitycontrollers.
 17. A computer system comprising:a peripheral deviceincluding at least one function; a computer operably associated withsaid peripheral device including a computer controller for controllingsaid function, said computer operable in a computer mode for receivingand transmitting computer information, a television mode for receivingand transmitting television information, and a combinationcomputer/television mode for receiving and transmitting computer andtelevision information; sensing means for determining whether saidperipheral device includes a peripheral controller for controlling saidfunction; and control means responsive to said sensing means forcontrolling said function with said peripheral controller if saidperipheral device includes said peripheral controller or, alternatively,with said computer controller if said peripheral device does not includesaid peripheral controller.
 18. The computer system, as recited in claim17, wherein said peripheral device is a display operably associated withsaid computer for displaying in said computer mode said computerinformation, in said television mode said television information, and insaid computer/television mode said computer and said televisioninformation.
 19. The computer system, as recited in claim 18, whereinone of said at least one function of said display is an audio function.20. The computer system, as recited in claim 18, wherein one of said atleast one function of said display is a display-geometry function. 21.The computer system, as recited in claim 18, wherein one of said atleast one function of said display is a display-quality function.